presentation on ghana’s trade policy …...trade policy and sustainable development meeting...
TRANSCRIPT
TRADE POLICY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MEETING
Geneva, 6 -- 8 October 2015
PRESENTATION ON GHANA’S TRADE POLICY FRAMEWORK
Session-3
M r. A n th on y K . N Y A M E -B A A F I Director
Multilateral, Regional and Bilateral Trade Ministry of Trade and Industry
Ghana
A N T H O N Y K . N YA M E - BA A F I D I R E C T O R
M U LT I L AT R A L , R E G I O N A L A N D B I L AT E R A L T R A D E M I N I S T RY O F T R A D E A N D I N D U S T RY
G H A N A
PRESENTATION ON GHANA’S TRADE POLICY FRAMEWORK
OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION
Snap shot of Ghana The Ghana Trade Policy The Ghana Trade Sector Support Programme (TSSP) Key indicators of the TSSP Thematic Areas of the Trade Policy and TSSP Key Outputs/Projects in the TSSP Some Key Achievements The Ghana Trade Policy and Sustainable Development Implementation Challenges The Way Forward Conclusion
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GHANA AT A GLANCE
Population of 27 million (2014 estimate) Per Capita GDP of US$1417 (2014 Estimate) GDP - Services (49.6%); Industry (28.4%); and Agriculture
(22%) Member of the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS) Commission - Implements Trade Liberalisation Scheme; will implement Common External Tariff from 2016; yet to ratify the West Africa-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement
Member of African Union Member of WTO
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GHANA TRADE POLICY
The Ghana Trade Policy was set in the context of Ghana’s long term vision of achieving middle income status by 2015 for inclusive accelerated sustainable economic growth and development
The policy provides clear and transparent guidelines for the implementation of domestic and international trade agenda.
It was also designed to ensure a consistent and stable policy environment within which the private sector and consumers can operate effectively and with certainty.
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THE TRADE SECTOR SUPPORT PROGRAMME
The Trade Sector Support Programme (TSSP) sets out in
detail the Trade Policy’s prescribed solutions and consisted of 27 projects
The Trade Policy and TSSP were put together by local and foreign experts with extensive consultations from various stakeholders
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THE TSSP CONTD
The TSSP was informed by practical experience of rapid economic change that had occurred in other countries, which were tailored to Ghana’s context.
The TSSP took a new approach to international trade capacity building which was centered on strengthening local capacity both in the public and private sectors to deliver long-term sustained changes.
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THE TSSP CONTD
The TP and TSSP cover consumer welfare, environmental concerns and gender equality issues that are being given attention during implementation
The TSSP was implemented over 5-year period from 2006 to 2010
The TSSP is underpinned by 2 parallel strategies of: An export-led growth Domestic market-oriented industrialization based on
non-oil imports
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KEY INDICATORS OF PERFORMANCE OF THE TSSP
The key indicators that are to be used to measure the overall performance of the TSSP were: Increased volume and value of exports Improved performance of domestic firms and SMEs in
targeted sectors Increased flows of foreign direct investment Increased sector competitiveness relative to other countries.
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THEMATIC AREAS
Thematic Areas of the Trade Policy/ TSSP: 1. Multilateral Trade 2. Creating a Fair and Transparent Import-Export Regime 3. Trade Facilitation 4. Enhancing Production Capacity for Domestic and Export
Market 5. Domestic Trade and Distribution 6. Consumer Protection and Fair Trade 7. Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
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KEY OUTPUTS/PROJECTS
1. Multilateral Trade - Improved structures and formulation of Trade Negotiation Strategies 2. Creating a Fair and Transparent Import-Export Regime - Tariff and Non-Tariff Measures; and Export and Import Incentives 3. Trade Facilitation - Customs Clearance; Airport Cargo Handling, Storage and Cold Chain; Adequate and Efficient Facilities at Ports; Cost Effective and Secure Transit Trade Facilities; and Free Port
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KEY OUTPUTS/PROJECTS
4. Enhancing Production Capacity – Development of Industrial Policy & Sector Strategy; Export Trade Support Services; Investment Promotion; SME Support; Education-Industry Linkage; Investment Finance; and Infrastructure Support and Service Delivery for Strategic Sectors; SPS & TBT; Enforcement of Standards on Domestic Market; and Productivity Improvement
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5. Domestic Trade and Distribution - Improved Trade and Distribution Infrastructure and System; Promotion of Made-in- Ghana Goods and Services; Competition Policy and Law; and Government Procurement 6. Consumer Protection – Consumer Protection Policy and Law 7. Intellectual Property Rights – Intellectual Property Rights Laws
KEY OUTPUTS/PROJECTS CONT’D 12
SOME KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
• Training was offered and continue to be offered to some officials on trade negotiation skills and strategies
Tariff Advisory Board was established to advice the Government on trade issues and is about to be converted into Ghana International Trade Commission.
Over 26 Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Border posts and freight forwarders have been connected to the GCNet System to facilitate trade
Electronic tracking devices are now installed on transit cargo to fast track clearance, movement, improve visibility and reduce diversion of goods.
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• Pack houses and cold chain facilities were constructed at some farm gates, sea ports and Kotoka International Airport ( Accra)
• The Industrial Policy and the Industrial Sector Support Programme (ISSP) which are currently under implementation were developed out of the TSSP.
• The National Export Strategy and the National Export Development Programme were also born out of the TSSP
SOME KEY ACHIEVEMENTS CONT’D 14
• The Ghana Standards Authority has been accredited to undertake product and system certification as well as certification of inspectors. This were some of the activities under the TSSP aimed at improving the National Quality Infrastructure
• A National Friday/Everyday Wear Programme was introduced as part of activities to promote Made-in-Ghana goods
SOME KEY ACHIEVEMENTS CONT’D 15
• A web-based product gallery has been established showcasing manufactured products of Ghana. Over 836 small and medium scale enterprises and 182 service providers have been listed on the gallery
• The Consumer Policy has been developed • All the seven IPR laws of Ghana have been reviewed. • IPR Laws are about to be enacted. • A lot of gender issues are being implemented • Some environmental issues for sustainable development
are being addressed
SOME KEY ACHIEVEMENTS CONT’D 16
GHANA’S TRADE POLICY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Terminal evaluation of the Ghana Trade Policy on the 3 pillars of the sustainable development agenda showed: Some modest achievements on the economic front Some modest gains were made on the social front of the
sustainable development pillars. However, the environmental pillar suffered. Domestically
scattered environmental policies could not protect the environment - evidence of degradation of the land scape pollution of water and air by some local and foreign companies in their production processes.
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IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES
The following were main challenges associated with the implementation of the TSSP:
Lack of funding for some of the various activities Delays in the procurement processes Limited or no control of activities not directly implemented
by Ministry of Trade and Industry (e.g. Trade Facilitation activities).
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THE WAY FORWARD
Some of the uncompleted activities of the Trade Sector Support , including the following have been rolled over into the Industrial Sector Support Programme for implementation: Development of the Competition Policy and law Consumer Protection Policy and Law Intellectual Property Rights Improvement in the National Quality Infrastructure Development of Global Value Chains
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CONCLUSION
To a large extend, the implementation of the TSSP has been successful and Ghana was able to become a middle income country during the implementation period of the TSSP
Trade and investment have substantially increased Ghana has embraced the SDGs strategy, but its trade
policy did not fully inculcate the 3 SD pillars. There is therefore the need for Ghana to review its trade
policy by taking into consideration current economic development and some of the SDGs.
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